Osteoporosis impacts your bone density and mass. As your bones become more damaged, you can experience greater fracture risk. Physicians typically prescribe medications and physical therapy and suggest that you change your diet and lifestyle. This is how physical therapy Hutchinson KS can help.
Osteoporosis Risk Factors
If you have a family history of osteoporosis, your risk of contracting this condition increases. Other unavoidable risk factors include being of the female gender, having a small frame and any predisposition toward getting the disease. In addition, your risks increase as you age and if you have a small frame.
Fortunately, you can minimize or eliminate other factors that increase your risk of contracting osteoporosis. For example, you can avoid or reduce your caffeine and alcohol intake. You can exercise. You can avoid cigarette smoking and drugs, particularly steroids and heparin. Your body should be a healthy weight. It would help if you had adequate calcium and vitamin D, and you should adopt healthy eating and a healthy lifestyle.
Physical Therapy for Osteoporosis
When you visit a physical therapist for osteoporosis, you will complete specific exercises in the office and at home. The process will include balancing and resistance training in addition to weight-bearing exercises. You may have to use a treadmill, elliptical or stair-climbing machine during your workouts. These exercises strengthen the muscles as well as your bones.
However, you will also learn new ways to complete daily tasks, such as those that require you to bend over. These tasks shift your weight in such a way that they actually place added pressure and strain on your bones. This can increase your risk of fractures in these areas. In addition, your therapist will help you learn techniques to improve your posture, balance and mobility and increase your range of motion.
Important Pain Management Techniques
As you complete the customized exercise program that the physical therapist assigns you, you will gain strength. As your muscles strengthen and begin better supporting your bones, you can expect your pain to decrease. In addition, your posture and positioning techniques should decrease your pain, especially as you complete your daily activities. Also, because your bone loss slows and you learn to prevent injuries, you shouldn’t experience additional pain.
The last thing a physical therapist Wichita KS wants is for you to become dependent on pain medications. Therefore, they focus on physical techniques that relieve your pain. They may even include massage and other therapies in your program.
Improving Your Posture as Much as Possible
Did you know that your posture directly impacts your bone health? In fact, poor posture also impacts bone and joint degeneration. This process can be painful and impact the speed of the disease’s progression. Your posture directly impacts your muscles, tendons and other connective tissues’ ability to support and protect your bones as well. Therefore, your physical therapist will focus much effort on improving your posture.
As you meet with Derby Physical Therapy, you will find that the techniques your therapist suggests will help you manage your osteoporosis better and slow its progression. If you have a diagnosis, visit a clinic and ask about how these professionals can help you.
